The Laptop Is Dead

[billroper]

The old laptop is dead (more or less). Long live the new laptop.

I got the new power adapter and -- although I managed to get some charge into the laptop -- it was clear that the connector was a truly flaky part. Now, while this can be fixed by someone really good (or lucky) with a soldering iron, it wasn't something I had the time or inclination to try.

I'd been looking over the HP Pavilion dv9410us for a while. It has a 17 inch screen and a numeric keypad, both in the "real nice thing to have" category. Sam's Club has had it for about $950 lately, although my local club is supposed to be out of stock on it according to the website.

But in poking around, I found that there's a dv9420us, which is about 1/3 faster, has about 1/3 more storage capacity, and which lists out for $200 more on the HP website. Hmm.

So while I was sitting in Dr. Bob's office waiting for him to look at my leg (which has flared up again -- I now have new antibiotics), I noticed that the dv9420us was on sale at Fry's yesterday and today for $999 after discounts and rebates.

So after we visited daisy_knotwise at the hospital, I tore out on I-355 when visiting hours ended, arriving in the Fry's parking lot at 8:45 PM, left the store with laptop and case by 9:05 PM (5 minutes after closing), and arrived home at 9:35 PM with laptop in tow.

So far, so good, but I need to neuter some more Vista features...

(And the power connector on this one looks to be better mounted. We'll see how it goes.)

Comments

[archiver-tim.livejournal.com]

I'm looking for a 12v/5volt power adapter that ends in a pin that is the same as the S-VHS pin. It goes to my external drive and I suspect the brick transformer more than the connection pins.

-Ryan

[laurel-potter.livejournal.com]

I'd been looking over the HP Pavilion dv9410us for a while.

It's really sad that whenever I see the initials HP I immediantly think of Harry Potter. So lame.

Oh, and please pass onto your lovely wife that I'm glad everything is going well with her.

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

I must admit, I'm baffled by the continuing charge towards large screens on "laptops". Any bigger and they'll have to start putting wheels and luggage handles on them. Mine has a 15" screen and I wish it were smaller. It's hard to get smaller anymore though unless you pay a premium for a boutique machine.

[min8ive.livejournal.com]

My husband could fix it. Whether he has the inclination or the time, I'm not sure. :-)

[hms42]

My parents have 2 HP laptops they got in April. They have so far tended to be very solid machines. The biggest headache I have seen with the machines is that they are running Windows Vista Ultimate. (I don't care for Vista, and would have preferred them to be on XP.)

As for HP quality, the laptops have seemed to be solid so far, but I have worked with desktops that have had an annoying video issue over the years. (Need to update the bios to fix it.)

Good luck with the machine.

Harold

[sposter.livejournal.com]

Vista neutering? I have a fairly new Toshiba running Vista. I think I need to pick your brains a bit!

We're still on track for next week - is there anything you'd like us to bring with us?

Hugs all around!

HP Pavilion dv9410us Notebook - How to open lid

[(Anonymous)]

I've had the notebook for three days and I still can't figure out how to open the lid/ cover. Could you help me? Thank you
Maria Gustafson
Gustafson58@msn.com

Re: HP Pavilion dv9410us Notebook - How to open lid

[billroper]

There's a button on the front, just right of center. Push it to unlatch the lid, then lift. It is a little tricky.